Annual Reports of the Judicial Support Agencies, Boards and Commissions For the Fiscal Year Ended August 31, 2012 OFFICE OF COURT ADMINISTRATION David Slayton, Administrative Director Annual Reports of the Judicial Support Agencies, Boards and Commissions For the Fiscal Year Ended August 31, 2012 Published by Office of Court Administration David Slayton, Administrative Director 205 West 14th Street, Suite 600 PO Box 12066 Austin, TX 78711-2066 (512) 463-1625 www.txcourts.gov DECEMBER 2012 Table of Contents Introduction to the Judicial Support Agencies, Boards and Commissions ................................................... 1 Office of Court Administration ...................................................................................................................... 3 Executive Operations ................................................................................................................................ 3 Research and Court Services Division ....................................................................................................... 3 Collection Improvement Program. ........................................................................................................ 3 Judicial Information Program ................................................................................................................ 7 H.B. 3352 and National Instant Criminal Background System (NICS) Record Improvement ................ 7 Texas Remote Interpreter Project (TRIP) in Domestic Violence Cases ................................................. 9 Domestic Violence Resource Attorney ............................................................................................... 10 Emergency Preparedness.................................................................................................................... 11 H.B. 79 County Court at Law Study ..................................................................................................... 11 Information Services Division ................................................................................................................. 11 Legal Division .......................................................................................................................................... 12 Specialty Courts Program .................................................................................................................... 13 Finance and Operations Division ............................................................................................................ 14 Certification Division ............................................................................................................................... 15 Texas Judicial Council .................................................................................................................................. 17 Juvenile Justice Committee. .................................................................................................................... 19 Committee on Court Resources .............................................................................................................. 19 Hate Crime Reporting. ............................................................................................................................ 20 Texas Indigent Defense Commission .......................................................................................................... 21 Public Defender Offices .......................................................................................................................... 21 Innocence Project Program .................................................................................................................... 22 Judicial Committee on Information Technology ......................................................................................... 23 Electronic Court Filing ............................................................................................................................. 23 Judicial Information Technology Standards ............................................................................................ 24 Court Reporters Certification Board ........................................................................................................... 25 Process Server Review Board ...................................................................................................................... 28 Guardianship Certification Board ............................................................................................................... 30 Judicial Compensation Commission ............................................................................................................ 33 Introduction to the Judicial Support Agencies, Boards and Commissions The Office of Court Administration provides information and research, technology services, budgetary and legal support, and other administrative assistance to a variety of judicial branch entities and courts, under the supervision of the Supreme Court of Texas and the Chief Justice. The office is led by an Administrative Director appointed by the Supreme Court and reporting to the Chief Justice. The Texas Judicial Council is the primary policy-making body for the judiciary responsible for studying and recommending changes to improve the administration of justice. The Administrative Director of the Office of Court Administration serves as Executive Director for the Council. The Texas Indigent Defense Commission is a statutorily-created permanent standing committee of the Texas Judicial Council that provides financial and technical support to counties to develop and maintain quality, cost-effective indigent defense systems that meet the needs of local communities and the requirements of the Constitution and state law. Although administratively attached to the Office of Court Administration, the Commission appoints an Executive Director responsible for leading the office. The Judicial Committee on Information Technology establishes standards and guidelines for the systematic implementation and integration of information technology into the state’s trial and appellate courts. The Office of Court Administration provides administrative support for this committee. The Court Reporters Certification Board performs licensing and regulatory functions for the court reporting profession. The Board is administratively attached to the Office of Court Administration. The Process Server Review Board performs certification and regulatory functions for persons authorized to serve process. The Office of Court Administration provides clerical support to the Board. The Guardianship Certification Board performs certification and regulatory functions for individuals (other than attorneys and corporate sureties) who act as private professional Annual theReports of Judicial Support Boards Agencies, and Commissions guardians, individuals (other than volunteers) who provide guardianship services to wards of 1 guardianship programs, and individuals who provide guardianship services to wards of the Department of Aging and Disability Services. The Board is administratively attached to the Office of Court Administration. The Judicial Compensation Commission is a governor-appointed body responsible for making a report to the Texas Legislature each even-numbered year recommending the proper salaries to be paid by the state for all justices and judges of the Supreme Court of Texas, the Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas, the courts of appeals and the district courts. The Office of Court Administration provides administrative support for the Judicial Compensation Commission. Annual theReports of Judicial Support Boards Agencies, and Commissions 2 Office of Court Administration Executive Operations — The Office of Court Administration (OCA) has been led since May 2012 by Mr. David Slayton, the Administrative Director of OCA and the Executive Director of the Texas Judicial Council. Mr. Slayton succeeded Mr. Carl Reynolds after his retirement in March 2012. Ms. Maria Eléna Ramón, General Counsel for OCA, was appointed by Chief Justice Wallace B. Jefferson to carry out those duties during the interim. Mr. Slayton is supported by an executive assistant, who also serves as clerk to the Process Server Review Board. The Director provides leadership and strategic direction, represents the agency to the Legislature, other agencies and interest groups, and is responsible for the agency’s performance. He staffs the policy-making function of the Judicial Council, with support from the Research and Court Services and Legal divisions. In August 2012, he assumed responsibility of CourTex, formerly a blog that is now distributed as a monthly email publication to almost 1,500 stakeholders, and has introduced OCA to social media via Facebook. Research and Court Services Division — During FY 2012, the division’s activities included the development or continuation of programs and projects designed to increase the collection of court costs, fees, and fines; to improve judicial data reporting accuracy and compliance; to improve the administrative operation of the courts; and to provide remote interpreter services for family violence cases. Collection Improvement Program OCA’s Collection Improvement Program is a set of principles and processes for managing cases when defendants are not prepared to pay all court costs, fees, and fines at the time of assessment and when time to pay is requested.